International Business Strategy
- Factory verification
- Direct product sourcing
For companies doing business across borders, built on 40+ years guiding executive teams through unfamiliar territory.
Who We Help
CEOs and owners moving into unfamiliar territory: international trade, sourcing, project deals abroad, AI, entertainment, or acquiring operations overseas, who don't have anyone in-house who's actually done it before.
What We Help You Do
Find international business projects.
Introduce your project to potential partners.
Evaluate the project, the partner, the market, and the deal, before it's too late to undo a mistake.
Before you commit to an international supplier, buyer, distributor, investment, partnership, shipment, or new market, get an experienced second opinion. One informed decision today can prevent costly mistakes tomorrow.
From factory floors and executive boardrooms to government ministries and international negotiations, Global Trade Strategy brings practical experience gained by doing business, not just advising on it.
For more than 40 years, we have helped companies evaluate international opportunities, reduce risk, avoid costly mistakes, and make better international business decisions before significant commitments are made.
Planning an important international business decision?
About Global Trade Strategy
Practical judgment built from decades of real international work.
Global Trade Strategy was founded by Mr. Shook, an international business advisor with more than four decades of experience at the intersection of trade facilitation, cross-border commercial strategy, and market development.
His career began during China's early economic opening and has expanded to include work across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and emerging markets worldwide. He has worked with Fortune 500 companies, government-related trade initiatives, financial institutions, and private-sector businesses of all sizes.
Our approach is practical and commercially grounded. We do not write theoretical reports. We help clients understand what is actually happening in a deal, what the risks are, and what to do next.
Years of International Business Experience
Countries and Markets Engaged
of Companies and Organizations Served
Historical Experience That Few Advisors Can Claim
Mr. Shook's China and international business experience reaches back to the early opening of U.S.–China commercial relations, often referred to as a "China business pioneer." His work has included:
Helping Honda understand and enter the China market before its major 1994 investment.
Assisting China-related decisions connected to more than $4 billion in U.S. exports.
Helping Industrial Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) purchase their first U.S. ATM equipment.
Exporting some of the first donut-making equipment to China.
Launching one of the early authorized franchise businesses in China.
Serving as the U.S. Chief Representative for one of China's largest machinery and equipment import-export corporations.
He also helped coordinate high-level training, meetings, and institutional introductions involving the United Nations, U.S. Congress, the Los Angeles Mayor's Office, and other organizations used by Chinese officials studying international economic development.
International Communication Support
Clear communication is often the difference between progress and costly misunderstanding. When needed, Global Trade Strategy's advisory work can include support for international communication, presentation preparation, cultural review, and professional Mandarin Chinese communication through experienced specialists.
Mandarin Chinese communication support may be directed by Linda, a former international broadcaster with extensive professional voice and communication experience.
Communication support is available as a component of broader advisory engagements when appropriate to the project.
Project History
Decades of high-level diplomatic and business trade negotiation, including with China, Mexico, Vietnam, and global trade hubs.